What makes a crane

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Help spread the wonder of families learning together. We sent you SMS, for complete subscription please reply. Follow Twitter Instagram Facebook. How does a crane work? What do cranes do? How much weight can a crane lift? Wonder What's Next? Try It Out Are you ready to build big? Be sure to explore the following activities with a friend or family member: Want to learn more about simple machines? Just jump online to check out All About Simple Machines to learn more about the types of simple machines and their various functions.

What examples of simple machines can you find around your house? Talk about what you learned with a friend or family member. Can you make a crane at home? Yes, you can! With a few simple materials and some help from an adult friend or family member, you can make your very own crane to play with at home. For info on renting cranes from Heede Southeast, call or e-mail dkenna heedesoutheast.

Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. During the first half of the twentieth century, European and American cranes developed in different ways. In Europe, where most cranes were used in cities with narrow streets, cranes tended to be built in the form of tall, slender towers, with the boom and the operator on top of the tower. Because quiet operation was important in crowded cities, these tower cranes were usually powered by electric motors when they became widely available.

In the United States, cranes were often used in locations far away from residential areas. Cranes tended to be built with the boom connected to a trolley, which could be moved easily from place to place. These mobile cranes tended to be powered by internal combustion engines. During the s, the availability of stronger steels, combined with an increased demand for taller buildings, led to the development of cranes with very long booms attached to small trucks, or to crawlers with caterpillar treads.

Mobile cranes and tower cranes of many different kinds are used extensively in construction sites around the world. The most important substance used to manufacture cranes is steel.

Steel is an alloy of iron and a small amount of carbon. For structures that do not require very high strength, a common form of steel known as carbon steel is used. Carbon steel exists in a wide variety of forms. The most important factor in determining the properties of carbon steel is the amount of carbon present, which ranges from less than 0. For structures that require great strength, particularly in cranes designed to lift very heavy objects, a variety of substances known as high-strength low-alloy HSLA steels are used.

HSLA steels contain relatively low levels of carbon, typically about 0. They also contain a small amount of one or more other elements that add strength. These elements include chromium, nickel, molybdenum, vanadium, titanium, and niobium. Besides being strong, HSLA steels are resistant to atmospheric corrosion and are better suited to welding than carbon steels. Depending on the exact design of the crane, a wide variety of other materials may be used in manufacturing.

Natural or synthetic rubber is used to make tires for mobile cranes. Certain structural components may be manufactured from various metals such as bronze and aluminum. Electrical components may include copper for wires and semiconducting elements such as silicon or germanium for electronic circuits.

Other materials that may be used include ceramics and strong plastics. Very few machines exist in as wide a variety of designs as cranes. Before the crane is constructed, the manufacturer must consider the site where it will be used and the weight it will need to lift. In addition, cranes are often modified to suit the needs of the user. For these reasons, it is not much of an exaggeration to say that no two cranes are exactly alike.

Cranes used for industrial purposes are generally designed to remain permanently in one location. Not the crane. The crane is the grandfather of all construction equipment. A crane is a machine that is used to lift and move heavy loads, machines, materials, and goods for a variety of purposes.

They are used in all different sectors of industry, from construction to manufacturing to shipbuilding and material loading. Cranes are common along skylines as they are necessary to build the skyscrapers we so often see in our cities today. While there are many different types of cranes, there are a few basic components worth mentioning. The main parts that can be found on a crane are the:. The boom is the most recognizable part of a crane.

The boom is a long arm that can either be telescopic or fixed. They take on a variety of roles depending on the type of crane and how it is built. They are able to work without jibs and are sometimes the main component on a crane.

The primary purpose of the boom is to lift, move and position material. They bear the majority of the load and are responsible for determining the reach of the crane. The jib of a crane is the lattice-type structure attached to the end of the boom. Using a lattice-type build helps to reduce the weight it adds to the front of the boom.

It is fixed in length and cannot be extended or retracted like a boom can. Some versions of mobile cranes have a jib fixed to the end of the boom to help move and lift materials. That being said, jibs are not always required and are often looked at as extra pieces that can be used when needed. The Rotex gear is the mechanism below the cab of the crane.

It allows the cab and boom to rotate left and right. A simple movement, but incredibly important for the function of the machine. They help add stability to the machine and generally increase stability. Many cranes have adjustable counterweights so that they fit the specific requirements of a load or job. On tower cranes, for example, the counterweight can be seen at the other end of the jib.

Outriggers may be one of the most important factors for crane safety. The function of an outrigger is to supply additional support. All outriggers should either meet or exceed the weight requirements of a crane or job. Outriggers do not compensate for unstable land. OSHA requires cranes to be assembled on firm ground that is drained and graded sufficiently.

Supporting outriggers are meant to be used in conjunction with proper ground standards and do not make up for unstable ground. In order for cranes to actually lift and move material, they require some kind of line or rope to do the actual lifting.

In the case of cranes, this material is a reinforced steel cable. Steel ropes were first used for mining hoists in the s.